Portable bicycle stand

ABSTRACT

A stand for a bicycle having a wheel, which stand holds the bicycle in an upright position of use on a horizontal surface. The stand comprises a trough having an upwardly open receptacle which is dimensioned and configured to receive the wheel in close cooperation therewith. One or more feet may be manually coupled to the trough to project laterally therefrom to steady the trough on the horizontal surface. The feet may slide fit to the trough, fasten by threaded fasteners, or may fold for stowage within the trough and swing out into a deployed position. The trough may include a storage compartment for bicycle tools and repair materials.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 USC 120of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 13/324,292,filed Dec. 13, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to stands for supporting bicycles in anupright position on a flat horizontal surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Bicycles must frequently be transported from one location to another,and when not in use, appropriately supported so that they do not lie onthe horizontal surface, or fall down. Also, it may be desirable tosupport a bicycle in an upright position of use without requiring handgrip, as may for example be necessary for repair and maintenance work.

Bicycles are frequently provided with so-called kick stands, whichtypically comprise a prop leg which is mounted on the bicycle and can beswung between a stowed position and a deployed position. Racks have beenproposed for supporting groups of bicycles en masse in public places.While these devices generally serve their purposes, it is desirable tobetter support bicycles, which may be quite expensive. Because an ownerof a bicycle cannot depend on a suitable bicycle stand or rack beingavailable when and where the owner may want, it is desirable to providea suitable stand or support which is portable, compact, and whichsecurely holds a bicycle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a secure, compact stand for bicycleswhich supports the bicycle in the upright position. The stand restsdirectly on a suitable flat horizontal surface, such as the ground orthe floor of a building. The stand may be ganged to support a group ofbicycles.

The novel stand comprises a trough configured to receive the wheel of abicycle in close cooperation therewith. Preferably, the trough isconfigured to receive a wheel having an inflated tire installed thereon,although the trough may be configured to receive a wheel in the absenceof a tire if desired. For brevity, the present invention will refer towheels of bicycles with the understanding that the wheel may or may nothave a tire installed thereon. The trough is provided with feet toassure that the bicycle be retained therein and oppose spontaneoustumbling of the bicycle from the supported position. The feet may bemanually detachable and installed.

According to one implementation of the invention, a trough may beprovided in a size accommodating a relatively large tire. Adaptingliners may be provided which may be manually inserted into and removedfrom the receptacle of the trough, which adapating liners may have theeffect of reducing the receptacle so as to cooperate closely with awheel of dimensions less than that of the large tire.

It is an object of the invention to provide a self-supporting stand forholding a bicycle in an upright position.

Another object of the invention is that the stand be compact for stowageand transport.

It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements andarrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which isinexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing itsintended purposes.

These and other objects of the present invention will become readilyapparent upon further review of the following specification anddrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes betterunderstood when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1A is a side view of a bicycle wheel held within a stand accordingto at least one aspect of the invention.

FIG. 1B is an enlarged perspective view showing the stand of FIG. 1 incross section.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stand of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a component of the stand of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the component of FIG. 3, showing anearly stage of folding for stowage.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the component of FIG. 4, showing a finalstage of folding for stowage.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the stand of FIG. 2, with the componentshown fully folded and in a stowage position.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged side detail view of the right side of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an end view of the right side of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of another stand for a bicycle, accordingto at least one further aspect of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective detail view of part of another stand for abicycle, according to at least one further aspect of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an optional adapting liner.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the inventionwith a plurality of troughs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first to FIG. 1A, according to at least one aspect of theinvention, a stand 100 is shown supported on a horizontal surface 2, forthe purpose of holding a first wheel 4 mounted on a bicycle (not shownin its entirety) in an upright position when the bicycle is not in use.It should be noted at this point that orientational terms such asupright refer to the subject drawing as viewed by an observer. Thedrawing figures depict their subject matter in orientations of normaluse, which could obviously change with changes in posture and positionof a user or a bicycle. Therefore, orientational terms must beunderstood to provide semantic basis for purposes of description, and donot limit the invention or its component parts in any particular way.

The nature of the stand 100 is better understood when examining FIG. 2.The stand 100 is seen to comprise a trough 102 defining a primaryreceptacle 104. The primary receptacle 104 is upwardly open, and ispreferably dimensioned and configured to receive the wheel 4 by loweringthe wheel 4 into the primary receptacle 104 from above when the stand100 is in the position of use depicted in FIG. 1A.

The stand comprises a plurality of stabilizing feet 106, 108 each ofwhich is manually movable to a stowed position and a deployed positionrelative to the trough 102. The deployed position is illustrated inFIGS. 1A and 2. In the deployed position, each stabilizing foot 106 or108 is fixed to and projects laterally from the trough 102 in adirection generally parallel to the axle 6 of the first wheel 4, asshown in FIGS. 1A and 2.

In the implementation of FIG. 2, the feet 106, 108 are each part of twofolding foot assemblies represented by the folding foot assembly 110,which enable each foot 106 or 108 to fold into and be stowed within theprimary receptacle 104 of the trough 102.

The nature of the folding foot assembly 110 is explained with referenceto FIGS. 3-6. FIG. 2 shows the folding foot assemblies in the deployedposition, wherein the feet 106, 108 project laterally from the trough102 so as to stabilize the stand 100 against spontaneous tumbling orfalling of bicycles from the position they would assume with a wheelsupported as seen in FIG. 1A. The folding foot assembly 110 may comprisetwo feet 106, 112 held together by a hinge 114. The larges faces 116,118 of the respective feet 106, 112 are held facing one another in closeproximity in the stowed position depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6, and to foldopen to occupy a common plane, as seen in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 depicts anintermediate stage of folding, wherein the feet 106, 112 pivot about theaxis 120 of the hinge 114. The folding foot assembly 110 furthercomprises an axle 122 pivotally mounted to the trough 102. The axle 122is disposed to pivot about its pivot axis 124 between the stowedposition shown in FIG. 6, wherein the feet 106, 112 are contained atleast partially within the primary receptacle 104 of the trough 102, andthe deployed position of FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the feet 106, 112 areexternal to the trough 102.

In summary, the feet 106, 112 may be moved from the stowed position seenin FIG. 6 to the deployed position of FIGS. 2 and 3 in the followingway. First, the feet 106, 112 may be swung downwardly from theirposition partially occupying the receptacle 104, as seen in FIG. 6, bypivoting the feet 106, 112 about the axis 124 of the axle 122. Pivotingmotion is indicated in FIG. 2 by an arrow 130. Once free of constraintdue to the outer walls 126, 128 of the trough 102, the feet 106, 112 maybe swung out of the parallel position seen in FIG. 5 to a spreadposition seen in FIG. 3. FIG. 4 shows an intermediate position of pivot,with each foot 106 or 112 being pivoted as indicated by respectivearrows 132, 134. Once the feet 106, 112 are fully spread apart as seenin FIG. 3, they may be simultaneously pivoted upwardly about the axis124 until their respective large faces 116, 118 contact the bottom ofthe trough 102, as seen in FIG. 2. The stand 100 is now stabilized.

Any stand according to the present invention may comprise a storagecompartment 136, which for purposes of illustration may be formed in thetrough 102 of the stand 100. That portion of the trough 102 to the rightof the bottom of the receptacle 104 may be hollow to define the storagecompartment 136. The storage compartment 136 may open to the exterior ofthe trough 102 without communicating with the receptacle 104, and thusprovides a storage space which avoids intruding upon the primaryreceptacle 104 of the trough 102. The storage compartment is also seenin FIG. 1B.

Referring also to FIG. 8, the storage compartment 136 may comprise anopenable closure 138, which openable closure may take the form of aflexible web 140 which removably engages the trough 102. The trough 102may comprise a hook 142 disposed on the trough 102 in a location whereinthe openable closure 138 may engage and be retained to the hook.Engagement is seen in FIG. 8.

The trough 102 may be provided with a plurality of snap fasteners 144,146 on the sides thereof, as seen in FIG. 7, to engage and retain theopenable closure 138. The web 140 may be drawn tightly over the end ofthe trough 102 so that it slightly overlaps the sides of the trough 102.Complementing snap fasteners 148, 150 may be snap fit to the snapfasteners 144, 146 when appropriately overlying the same. The snapfasteners 144, 146, 148, 150 are shown on one side of the trough 102. Asimilar arrangement (not shown) may be provided in mirror imageorientation on the opposing side of the trough 102 if desired.

FIG. 9 shows an alternative to the folding feet 106, 112 of FIGS. 1A and2. In FIG. 9, a stand 200 may comprise a trough 202 defining a primaryreceptacle 104. The primary receptacle 204 is upwardly open, and ispreferably dimensioned and configured to receive the wheel 4 by loweringthe wheel 4 into the primary receptacle 204 from above when the stand200 is in a the position of use such as that depicted in FIG. 1A. Thestand 200 may have feet 206, 208 each secured to the trough 202 by athreaded fastener arrangement disposed to hold the stabilizing feet 206,208 in a deployed position such as that shown in FIGS. 1A and 2. Thethreaded fastener arrangement may include threaded fasteners such aswing nuts 210, 212. The foot 208 may be similarly provided as the foot206. Preferably, the trough 202 is provided with threaded holes (notshown) corresponding to the threading of the shafts of the wing nuts210, 212. Also, the feet 206, 208 may bear preformed holes (not shown)to pass the shafts of the wing nuts 210, 212. The wing nuts 210,212 maybe manually tightened and loosened for installation and removal of thefeet 206, 208.

FIG. 10 shows a further alternative to the folding feet 106, 112 ofFIGS. 1A and 2. In FIG. 10, a stand 300 (not shown in its entirety) maycomprise a trough 302 defining a primary receptacle 304. The primaryreceptacle 304 is upwardly open, and is preferably dimensioned andconfigured to receive the wheel 4 by lowering the wheel 4 into theprimary receptacle 304 from above when the stand 300 is in the positionof use such as that depicted in FIG. 1A. The stand 300 may have achannel 310 which is dimensioned and configured to receive a foot 306 byslide fit as the foot 306 is moved into the deployed position. Ofcourse, the foot 306 is configured and dimensioned to be received inclose fit by the channel 310.

FIG. 11 shows an optional feature of the invention. A stand 400 maycomprise a trough 402 defining a primary receptacle 404. The primaryreceptacle 404 is upwardly open, and is preferably dimensioned andconfigured to receive the wheel 4 by lowering the wheel 4 into theprimary receptacle 404 from above when the stand 400 is in the positionof use such as that depicted in FIG. 1A. The stand 400 may have feet(not shown) of any suitable type, such as those shown and describedherein. The salient feature of the stand 400 is not feet, but rather anadapting liner 406 which is dimensioned and configured to be received inclose cooperation within the primary receptacle 404 of the trough 400.The adapting liner 406 in turn comprises a secondary receptacle 408 ofdimensions smaller than those of the primary receptacle 404 of thetrough 402. The secondary receptacle 408 is dimensioned and configuredto receive a second wheel (not shown) in close cooperation therewith.The second wheel may be generally similar to the first wheel 4 of FIG.1A, but is of tire width less than that of the first wheel 4. Thisfeature enables the stand 400 to accommodate wheels such as the wheel 4of different nominal widths and purposes. Thus the stand 400, or anystand provided with a feature comparable to the adapting liner 406, maybe used interchangeably with racing bicycles, road bicycles, andmountain bicycles, for example, by utilizing an appropriate adaptingliner such as the adapting liner 406.

The adapting liner 406 may be of external dimensions and configurationso as to be tightly and closely received within the receptacle 404 (thisoption is not shown). As an alternative, the external dimensions andconfiguration of the adapting liner 406 may be sufficiently smaller thanthe corresponding surface of the receptacle 404 so that a gap existsbetween the two. In the case of such an occurrence, the stand 400 may beprovided with at least one, and if desired a plurality of adapters 410,412, 414, 416 each which is dimensioned and configured to fill such agap.

FIG. 12 shows a stand 500 for a plurality of bicycles (not shown). Eachof the bicycles has at least one first wheel mounted thereon, such asthe wheel 4 of FIG. 1B. The stand 500 comprising a plurality of troughssuch as troughs 502A, 502B, 502C. Each trough 502A, 502B, 502C has arespective primary receptacle 504A, 504B, or 504C. which is dimensionedand configured to receive one wheel of one bicycle in close cooperationtherewith. The stand 500 comprises a base 506 disposed to connect thetroughs 502A, 502B, 502C together in a deployed position such as thatseen in FIG. 1A, such that the primary receptacles 504A, 504B, 504C ofthe troughs 502A, 502B, 502C all open upwardly when the troughs 502A,502B, 502C are placed on a horizontal surface such as the horizontalsurface 2. The troughs 502A, 502B, 502C are stabilized againstspontaneous tumbling of bicycles supported by placing one first wheel ofeach bicycle in one primary receptacle 504A, 504B, 504C of theirrespective troughs 502A, 502B, 502C. The base 506 may comprise a closedloop of tubes which engages channels 508A, 508B, 508C formed in thebottom surfaces of the troughs 502A, 502B, 502C. Engagement of thechannels 508A, 508B, 508C may be frictional, or alternatively, maycomprise a threaded fastener (not shown) or other fastener forreinforcing securement of the troughs 502A, 502B, 502C. Preferably,connection using friction or a fastener enables manual attachment to andremoval of the base 506 from the troughs 502A, 502B, 502C. As seen, thebase 506 may connect the troughs 502A, 502B, 502C together such that thetroughs 502A, 502B, 502C are disposed abreast of and parallel to oneanother. Connection may rely upon a threaded fastener arrangementsimilar to that seen in FIG. 9 for example.

While the present invention has been described in connection with whatis considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to beunderstood that the present invention is not to be limited to thedisclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangementswhich are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possibleinterpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass allmodifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible

I claim:
 1. A stand for a bicycle having at least one first wheelmounted thereon, comprising a trough having a primary receptacle whichis dimensioned and configured to receive the first wheel in closecooperation therewith, and at least one stabilizing foot which ismanually movable to a stowed position and a deployed position relativeto the trough, and which in a deployed position is fixed to and projectslaterally from the trough in a direction generally parallel to the axleof the first wheel.
 2. The stand of claim 1, wherein the troughcomprises a channel disposed to receive the stabilizing foot by slidefit in the deployed position.
 3. The stand of claim 1, wherein the standcomprises a threaded fastener arrangement disposed to hold thestabilizing foot in the deployed position.
 4. The stand of claim 1,wherein the foot is disposed to fold into and be stowed within theprimary receptacle of the trough.
 5. The stand of claim 1, wherein thefoot comprises a folding foot assembly comprising two feet, and a hingedisposed to hold the two feet together with their largest faces facingone another in close proximity in a stowed position, and to fold open tooccupy a common plane.
 6. The stand of claim 5, wherein the folding footassembly further comprises an axle pivotally mounted to the trough anddisposed to pivot between the stowed position, wherein the feet arecontained at least partially within the primary receptacle of thetrough, and a deployed position wherein the feet are external to thetrough.
 7. The stand of claim 1, further comprising a storagecompartment formed in the trough, which said storage compartment opensto the exterior of the trough and provides a storage space which avoidsintruding upon the primary receptacle of the trough.
 8. The stand ofclaim 7, further comprising an openable closure for the storagecompartment.
 9. The stand of claim 8, wherein the openable closurecomprises a flexible web which removably engages the trough.
 10. Thestand of claim 9, further comprising a hook disposed on the trough in alocation wherein the openable closure may engage and be retained to thehook.
 11. The stand of claim 9, further comprising at least one snapfastener disposed to engage and retain the openable closure.
 12. A standfor a plurality of bicycles each having at least one first wheel mountedthereon, comprising a plurality of troughs each having a primaryreceptacle which is dimensioned and configured to receive one said firstwheel in close cooperation therewith, and a base disposed to connect thetroughs together in a deployed position such that the primaryreceptacles of the troughs all open upwardly when the troughs are placedon a horizontal surface, and such that the troughs are stabilizedagainst spontaneous tumbling of bicycles supported by placing one firstwheel of each bicycle in one primary receptacle of one trough.
 13. Thestand of claim 12, wherein the base connects the troughs together suchthat the troughs are disposed abreast of and parallel to one another.14. The stand of claim 12, wherein the stand is manually attachable toand removable from the troughs.
 15. The stand of claim 14, furthercomprising a threaded fastener arrangement disposed to hold thestabilizing foot in the deployed position.
 16. The stand of claim 14,further comprising an adapting liner which is dimensioned and configuredto be received in close cooperation within the primary receptacle of thetrough and which in turn comprises a secondary receptacle of dimensionssmaller than those of the primary receptacle of the trough, wherein thesecondary receptacle is dimensioned and configured to receive a secondwheel in close cooperation therewith, wherein the second wheel is oftire width less than that of the first wheel.
 17. The stand of claim 16,further comprising: an adapting liner which is dimensioned andconfigured to be received in cooperation within the primary receptacleof the trough and which in turn comprises a secondary receptacle ofdimensions smaller than those of the primary receptacle of the trough,wherein the secondary receptacle is dimensioned and configured toreceive a second wheel in close cooperation therewith, wherein thesecond wheel is of tire width less than that of the first wheel; and atleast one adapter which is dimensioned and configured to fill a gapbetween the trough and the adapting liner.